Chapter 72

◈ Chapter 72. It's Annoying (1)

Frost was part of the Empire's territory.

Even with the death of the lord, Sir Seilion, this fact remained unchanged.

In short, everything had to follow the Empire's procedures.

Thud, thud.

The main castle of Frost.

The sound of boots echoed through the castle, and before it could fade,

knights saluted me.

If you were to ask why there were knights,

it was, of course, the Lionheart Knights.

"Sir Ho-yul, we've been waiting for you."

Harkan, the commander of the Lionheart Knights, greeted me with great enthusiasm.

"Indeed, such tasks are not easy for a swordsman like me."

Yes, following the Empire's procedures,

Harkan was appointed as the acting lord of Frost.

Among the Arcanians summoned to reality,

Harkan, the commander of the Lionheart Knights, held the highest position in the Empire.

Naturally, I was involved in that decision.

"You will surely do well."

With the relationship and influence at their peak,

the [Authority] function was activated.

Yes, that authority function was incredibly powerful.

'Powerful enough to bend Harkan's stubbornness.'

If I were a greedy person like me, Ho-yul, it might be different.

Wasn't Granfel someone who lived and died by formality and procedure?

Frost wasn't some abandoned land.

Knowing it was part of the Empire,

violating the Empire's procedures and taking over the territory?

'That's something impossible for Granfel.'

Of course, at first, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Unlike the incorruptible Granfel, I was just an ordinary human.

Moreover, I had to put on a show for those around me.

- What is the economic value of Frost?

- Japanese government, "Frost cannot be conceded to anyone."

- AAU, "International agreements must not be ignored..."

With the new update,

the word "Frost" appeared.

From the moment it appeared,

until Frost was freed from the Demon King's grasp,

the media never stopped talking about Frost's value.

Thanks to that, I had some expectations.

Perhaps I could become the lord of Frost.

- "Although we must follow the Empire's procedures, surely Sir Ho-yul should be in the acting lord's position..."

Even Harkan said as much.

However, that disappointment didn't last long.

The [Authority] function was activated.

I checked the status of Frost and realized it.

[Northern City, Frost]

[Status: Worst]

...This, it was a stroke of luck that I didn't take the position!

The current state of Frost is truly the worst.

The situation was worse than the early days of the Yusra Kingdom.

'If the Yusra Kingdom started from nothing,'

Frost was in the negative.

"What is the condition of the residents?"

"It won't be easy, but they are trying to accept the situation."

As Harkan said, it wouldn't be easy to understand.

Before overcoming the aftereffects of the Demon King,

they found out they had fallen into another world, not the Arcana continent.

In that sense, it was fortunate.

'...If I, a person like me, had become the new lord...'

Wouldn't it have just increased their resistance?

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but be grateful.

'Even if I did my best, it would have been a break-even deal.'

I often benefit from Granfel's tired nature.

I added to the worried Harkan,

"Get used to the position, Sir Harkan."

"I'm trying to do that."

"No, you must get used to it."

"...Sir, is something the matter?"

Indeed, Harkan was quick to notice.

The crack in the Kyrnberg Machine Tower.

The situation in the Arcana continent I witnessed through it.

Just like Marcello,

there was no reason not to tell Harkan.

"I had a hunch."

Harkan took a deep breath and continued,

"But now that the hunch has become a certainty, my emotions are stirred."

Soon, his eyes shone with determination.

"As you say, I will get used to the position and the weight of it."

Yes, Harkan had to get used to it.

Considering the situation in the Arcana continent,

there was no guarantee that a situation like the Frost incident wouldn't happen again.

Unless the Emperor of the Empire appeared in reality,

Harkan's shoulders would only become heavier.

'...Damn, now that I think about it, there was nothing good about it, was there?'

If this were a game, it might be different.

Being a lord wasn't all that great.

Most importantly, there was so much responsibility.

In that sense, the [Authority] function was almost cheating.

'A lord in name, but with power equal to a lord.'

Of course, I couldn't wield that powerful function as I pleased.

Power wielded for personal gain?

Granfel's pride wouldn't allow it.

Why, if I used it appropriately, like now, it would be different.

"How is the recovery progressing?"

"Thanks to the guild's help, it's going smoothly."

"Good. It would be better to set priorities for the work."

Swish—

I immediately picked up the quill pen.

Reconstruction of Frost.

I reviewed the documents and found points to improve.

Why, the issues were clear to see.

Of course, this was also thanks to Granfel's settings.

『There was a reason why Granfel was chosen as the successor to his family at the age of seven.』

In the setting,

Granfel was the successor of a great family.

Knowledge of estate management?

Talent in magic or swordsmanship.

He could intuitively identify problems and provide solutions.

That's why Harkan greeted me so enthusiastically.

"Terrifying! Without you, I would have made a big mistake."

"Everyone makes mistakes."

"Your humility makes me feel ashamed. Sir Ho-yul, you never make mistakes, do you?"

...What are you doing, answer quickly.

Every moment, every moment is the result of a mistake in school!

However, contrary to my feelings,

I shamelessly remained silent.

In the end, Harkan spoke first.

"Although it's bad news, talking with you makes me feel a bit relieved. Of course, I owe you again."

Owe me?

If you say that, I have nothing to say.

Didn't I extract all the power from the Lionheart Knights like a bone broth...!

Not to mention here,

if it weren't for the Lionheart Knights in Frost,

we wouldn't have even seen the Demon King, let alone defeated him.

However, I didn't drag out the conversation.

I just replied succinctly.

"Everything has give and take. Don't worry about it."

...Succinctly shameless!

Truly, a typical answer from me.

"Haha, I'll keep that in mind."

Fortunately, Harkan has a hearty personality.

While thinking,

a noise came from outside the office window.

Thud, thud, thud—

'It's a helicopter.'

A helicopter was flying over Frost.

Harkan glanced at it and said,

"According to Jessica, the residents of Frost look at that flying metal chunk with anxious eyes. I think it's understandable."

I nodded.

It's a natural reaction.

Just like we were shocked by monsters,

modern technology would be unfamiliar to the Arcanians.

Now that they are summoned to reality,

they have no choice but to adapt.

However,

something was hanging from the helicopter.

Messily and dangling.

My reaction to it was also natural.

I withdrew my cold gaze and said,

"Aesthetically, it's extremely annoying."

*

Where there is value, people will gather, no matter how unreasonable it may be.

Squeak—!

A terrifying sound came from the loudspeaker, followed by an agitated voice.

"The government must immediately expel the refugees!"

"Expel them! Expel them!"

"Do not go against the will of the people for the country!"

Hokkaido, which was already troubled,

"This year is terrible. Terrible."

Including Jeong Man-seok of the Min-guk Ilbo,

the Korean journalists gathered in Hokkaido, Japan, shivered. It was partly due to the cold wind of Hokkaido, but the bigger reason was the protesters.

"Really, it's terrifying, isn't it? I mean, how can they do this?"

"What are refugees? Refugees."

"They all saw it, didn't they? What the Frost residents went through. If they were real people, they couldn't do this."

It was hard to even call it a protest.

The journalists could clearly see the ulterior motives.

Steam came out of Jeong Man-seok's mouth.

"Of course, they probably received funding from an extreme right-wing group."

"Given the government's stance, it's no surprise."

"It's urgent. The situation in Japan is really bad, you know?"

The Japanese government, which violated international agreements to claim Frost,

had gambled on their own Inazuma Guild.

However, most of the Inazuma Guild members, led by the guild master, Hisagi Kazuma, openly immigrated to the Yusra Kingdom.

It caused a big stir.

"Effectively, it was asylum. That's what it was."

"I don't know what happened between Inazuma and the Japanese government. Really, after such a bad move, now they're making a desperate one. Japan's image is plummeting."

"Since they've already violated the agreement, they'll probably drag it out to the end."

Thud, thud, thud—

While having the conversation,

the sound of a helicopter.

The journalists sighed and even took photos.

"What's written on that banner?"

"Go away. Long live Japan. It's roughly that, toned down."

"Wow, those guys."

It seemed unnecessary to this extent.

Is the international agreement just an international agreement for no reason?

No matter how much they tried to force it, nothing would change.

The Japanese government couldn't influence Frost no matter what tricks they used.

Perhaps, knowing this but feeling wronged, they were trying to provoke.

But at this point, it had gone beyond provocation.

To even hang such a banner in the sky.

"It's not intentional. This is just pure malice."

Malice.

Yes, where there is value, people gather.

Where people gather, 'demons' appear.

Especially in a place where negative energy is overflowing, like now.

"You're doing well."

At the protest line filled with protesters and journalists,

the man, Maeda Kenji, shivered.

Was it from the cold? No.

Was it from fear? No, not that either.

Maeda shivered from the rising excitement.

"Yes, this is it."

Maeda was no longer a government minister.

'Well, it might look that way on the surface.'

But inside, he was possessed by a demon.

Maeda's pupils turned black.

"Foolish. All of them are foolish."

Humans are foolish.

Wasn't his name Maeda Kenji?

What's so great about this insignificant guy?

What's so great that he can make people look so dirty with just a few words?

Of course, foolishness wasn't limited to humans.

"My lord, you were also very foolish."

The Demon King, Decarabia.

Yes, even the demon who was once his lord was foolish.

The Demon King's centurion.

Recalling his past, the guy laughed maliciously.

"A demon must always be demonic."

Maliciously, and cruelly.

That's how a demon must live.

Knowing this,

he didn't sacrifice his life for a foolish lord.

He deserted from the Demon King's army and possessed a human body.

What was the result?

Shiver—

The foolish Demon King is dead,

and he is alive and growing stronger.

Maeda, who was intoxicated by the ecstasy, came to his senses.

"Oh, it's the journalists."

Maeda started to act as Maeda Kenji.

It wasn't difficult.

No, it was even enjoyable.

"Isn't this a democratic country? There are different opinions, but no wrong opinions, right? When did protests need conditions? Isn't that right? By the way, where are you from? Korea?! I see, I understand your intentions!!"

With each word he spoke,

the negative emotions of the humans stirred.

He didn't care about the aftermath.

Maeda Kenji.

If his body became useless, he could just discard it.

Of course, by then, he would be a much stronger demon.

'Even if I become stronger, I don't want to die foolishly like the Demon King.'

He had no intention of calling himself a king.

He would live as a demon, maliciously and cruelly,

possessing a human.

In that sense, he was looking for prey.

'The one who defeated the Demon King.'

Yes, wasn't his name Ho-yul?

If he could possess Ho-yul's body, it would be the best.

Even with the insignificant body of Maeda,

he could control humans.

If he possessed the body of Ho-yul, who defeated the Demon King...

'I might become an existence greater than the Demon King.'

Yes, that was why he came to Frost.

The confidence to possess Ho-yul's body?

He had it in abundance.

'I am not foolish.'

He didn't intend to proclaim himself a demon like the Demon King.

No matter how much Ho-yul defeated the Demon King,

he wouldn't recognize the demon possessing Maeda's body.

He just needed to wait for a moment of carelessness.

In that sense, this was a fishing expedition.

'I've cast the bait.'

The bait of the protesters and the helicopter.

'If Ho-yul, that guy, takes the bait...'

While Maeda was thinking this,

Thud, thud, thud—!

The helicopter was returning.

For some reason, it was making a very urgent sound.

The journalists shouted,

"Wait, is that on fire? Surely not?"

"Is the helicopter malfunctioning?"

"No, it's not that. The banner is on fire?!"

"..."

Soon, Maeda's lips curled up maliciously.

'Indeed, humans are foolish!'

Ho-yul, that guy, took the bait.

Maeda opened his mouth to the journalists as if he had been waiting for it.

"This is a clear act of hostility. I can no longer stand by. I will go to Frost right now and settle this myself!"

Of course, Maeda's delusion didn't last long.

The moment he set foot in Frost,

he subconsciously realized it.

'...What, what is this gaze?'

The fear of prey facing its natural enemy!